Wrapping and banding machine



12 Sheets-Shea?. 1

Aug. 11, 1936. F. X. MALocsAY WRAPPING AND BANDING MACHINE Filed April 7, 1932 l Aug. 11, 1936. F. x."lvlAl ocsAY 2,050,714

WRAPPING AND BANDING MACHINE Filed April 7, 1932 12 Sheets-Shee. 2

ATTORNEYS Aug. 1,1, 1936.

F. X. MALOCSAY.

WRAPPI-NG AND BANDING MACHINE Filed April 7, 1932 12 Sheets-Shea?l 3 lNVE TOR ATTORNEY5 www Aug. 11, 1936.

F. X. MALOCSAY WRAPPING-AND BANDING MACHINE Filed April 7, 1932 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 a ATTORNEYS I I I I I I Aug. 11, 1936. F. x. MALOCSAY WRAPPING `AND BANDING MACHINE 12 sheets-sheer. 5

Filed April '7, 1952 uw NToR ATTORNEYS Aug- 11, 1936. F. x. MALOCSAY 2,050,714

WRAPPING AND BANDING MACHINE INVENTOR Aug. 11, 1936. F. x. MALocsAY WRAPPING AND BANDING MACHINE Filed April 7, 1932 l2 Sheets-Shea?. 7

Aug. 11, 1936. F. x. .MALocsAY WRAPPING AND BANDING MACHINE Filed April '7, 1952 l2v Sheets-Sheet 8 IIIIII 1 .IIIIIIII ...1.

m .m mil.. 5mm

in www i EV t @S VQ n//w//W/V /fJfV/V /M Ow/ v S N \N. www i .l, MR 0.a. c/ .1 ,.K M \11/ //l|\\\ f f www /IIMUQN M @uw @Hmmm SH n w m H .m H|||..

F. X. MALOCSAY WRAPPING AND BANDING MACH INE Aug. 1l, 1936.

12 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed April 7, 1932 1 TIM 7m ATTORNEYS ug 11, 193@ nF. x. MALocsAY 2,050,714

WRAPPING AND BANDING MACHINE Filed April 7, 1952 12 Sheets-SheeflO ATTORNEYS ugu, 1936- F. x. MALocsAY 2,050,714

WRAPPING AND BANDING MACHINE Filed April 7. 1932 12 Sheets-Shea?l 11 Il '109114 87 86132 11m mu11111111111111"III'IIIIIIIIA @c ATTORNEYS Aug. 11, 1936. F. x. MALocsAY I 12,050,714

4 -WRAPPING AND BANDING MACHINE Filed April 7, 1932 12 Sheets-Sheet 12 11m f l 7l 125 122 @Il 5,/ o

5/ Q 7CH@ zu I lNv-ro BY A if A M11/@ V ATTORNEYS Patented Aug.` 11, 1936 UNITED STATES 2,050,714 WRAPPING AND BANDNG MACHINE Francis X. Malocsay, Upper Saddle River, N. J.,

assignor, by mesne assignments, to Consolidated International Corporation, a. corporation of New York Application April 7, 1932, Serial No. 603,815

11 Claims.

This invention relates generally to articlewrapping and banding machines, and while broadly applicable, is particularly concerned with the wrapping of cigars in a wrapping material and the banding of said cigars. It is especially adapted to the wrapping of cigars in transparent cellulosic sheet material, marketed under the trade name of cellophane or other similar material, preferably of the moisture-proof variety.

While a number of wrapping and banding machines have been invented which successfully wrap small packages or cigars in tin foil, tissue paper or other easily pliable material, it is found in practice that they do not satisfactorily perform this operation with such recalcitrant and rather resilient wrapping material, as cellophane. The reason is that these machines either work on the so-called turret principle and wrap and band cigars or packages progressively in different stationswhich is perfectly feasible with tin foil or even common paper-or involve another locomotory principle, using conveyors or lifts with different stops. It is evident that such arrangement is bound to give faulty results in a proposition like that of the present invention, where a fiat sheet of springy material, like cellophane, is wrapped about a cigar and no other means are employed to lock and keep it in place but a cigar band; i. e., a girdle of paper with one gummed and moistened end, in the middle and/or two downwardly bent and scored folds at the ends of the wrapper. It would require too much auxiliary guiding mechanism to keep the wrapper from unfolding before it reaches the last banding and sealing station. This drawback is overcome by a principle, which is embodied in the present invention, to wit: that the wrapping, banding and tip-sealing operations are carried to completion at a single place or station and that the cigar goes through all phases of this process while being held stationary. This has the further advantage of sparing thetobacco wrapper of the cigar from possible damage by transportation and through the change of gripping means in transit.

It is therefore one of the objects of this invention to provide a wrapping and banding machine which will perform the dual function of wrapping and banding a cigar, while the latter is held stationary during these operations.

It is furthermore among the objects of this invention to provide a wrapping and banding machine which will entirely Wrap an article and secure a band around said wrapper, and which will automatically deliver said article to the wrapping and banding position, and which will automatically discharge said article after it has been Wrapped and banded.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wrapping and banding machine which will entirely wrap an article and secure a. band around said wrapped article, said band having been severed from a continuous strip or roll of bands.

Another objectv of this invention is to provide a mechanism which will wrap and band cigars, said bands for said cigars being delivered to the banding position in a continuous strip, at which.

point they are severed and secured around the wrapped cigars.

A further object of this invention is to provide a cigar handling mechanism which will automatically feed a continuous strip of cigar bands to a. banding position and in perfect alignment to sever the equivalent of one band from the free end of said continuous band strips, meisten the gummed end of said severed band and secure it in position around a wrapped or unwrapped cigar.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cigar wrapping and banding mechanism which will receive a wrapper and a band, each severed from a continuous strip and placed one upon the other in a wrapping and banding position, and which will fold said Wrapper around the cigar and then the band without, moving the cigar to perform both folding and banding operations.

Another object of this invention is to provide a wrapping and banding machine having a band feed mechanism which will deliver the bands to the banding position in a continuous strip form with a constant length of feed movement regardless of the length of the individual bands comprising said band strip, and said band feed mechanism having adjustable aligning, severing and moistening means to accommodate different lengths of bands.

Another object of this invention is to provide a combination wrapping and banding machine which can be easily and quickly adjusted to entirely wrap an article and discharge it without securing a band around said article and wrapper, or, be so adjusted to discharge a banded but unwrapped article.

A further object of this invention is to provide a cigar wrapping and banding mechanism which will accommodate cigars of various shapes and sizes and which Will be particularly adapted for synchronous cooperation with any of the conventional cigar feeding devices, commonly known as hoppers. i

A further object of this invention is to provide means to apply gum or an adhesive to the band.

A further object of this invention is to provide means whereby the projecting ends of the wrapper are scored and folded over toward the body of the cigar to lock the wrapper and prevent it from unfolding, even in the case where the banding of the cigar is o mitted.

A further object, in compass with the foregoing, s to arrange said means so that they' operate upon the wrapper at the same station formed.

A further object of this invention is the provision of mechanism for utilizing a continuous strip or roll of bands, whether gummed or ungummed, and to provide means to apply gum or adhesive to the band, or to molsten a gummed band. I have found that when gummed bands are used for banding cigars and are placed in a magazine or band-holder, that such gummed bands have a tendency to adhere or stick or cake together, with the result that the operator must break the adhesion. This is usually accomplished by the operator taking a pile of bands and fanning the gummed ends, and in this manner break the adhesion. In many instances the bands nevertheless adhere together and two or more bands will consequently be removed from the pile of bands. I have found that by use of a roll or continuous strip of bands with the mechanism disclosed in this application, the foregoing diiilculties are overcome.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wholly coordinated and combined assembly by which the foregoing objects are carried out in a novel, simple and improved manner and thereby increase the production and reduce the cost of wrapping and banding cigars.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wrapping and banding machine in which the entire operation is automatic and does not require human'handling of the articles and which thus greatly reduces the amount of manual labor or supervision required.

A further object of this invention is to provide and construct in a single unit, a combined wrapping and banding mechanism; that is, a machine which will at a definite predetermined position, perform the dual function of applying a wrapper and a band around a cigar, both of which are severed from a continuous strip.

Other more specific objects and advantages of the apparatus will appear as the nature of the improvements are better understood, the invention consisting substantially in the novel arrangement and corelation of instrumentalities herein fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters are used 'to describe corresponding parts throughout the several views and then nally pointed out and specifically defined and indicated in the appended claims.

The disclosure made the basis of exemplifying the present inventive concept suggests apractical embodiment thereof, but the invention is not to be restricted to the exact details of this disclosure, and the latter therefore is to be understood from an illustrative, rather than a restrictive standpoint. It will be understood that the various features of the invention may be separately applicable despite their cooperation herein shown.

In this speciflcation no detail description of the operation of the cigar feed or hopper mechanism will be given, as this type of mechanism is fully described and illustrated in my Patent No. 1,653,641, dated December 27, 1927, and in my applications, Serial Number 492,437, filed October 31, 1930, on Cigar banding machines, Serial Number 519,347, iiledMarch 2, 1931, on Cigar handling machines and Serial Number 526,788, filed April 1, 1931, on Cigar machines.

In the embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed there is provided a table, upon the top of which the Acigars are fed from a hopper which is not shown in the drawings, but which would be located at the left hand side of Figs. 1 and 5 and operated in a synchronous manner with the wrapping and banding operation. The cigars move with an intermittent movement. The rest 5 periods between the forward movements of the cigars being equal to one complete cycle of 'the Wrapping and banding mechanism. The band strip is fed from a roll located at the left hand side of the machine as illustrated in Fig. 5, 1o Its path of travel is above and parallel to the path of travel of the cigars, and its free end is aligned by an aligning member. Its right hand end is then gripped by a moistening member and a cutter severs a band from the strip. During 15 the aligning, moistening and severing of the band, the cellophane wrapper is fed into position underneath the band from the rear of the machine by the wrapper feed and cutting mechanism illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14. The cigarsare guided 20 upward between adjustable lguides by a plunger. This upward movement causes the wrapper and band to be folded around three sides of the cigar with the aid of automatically adjusted side plates. The cigar is held in this position while the 25 wrapperand band are folded around the fourth side of the cigar. At the completion of this operation, the ends of the folded wrapper which extend beyond the extremities of the cigar are folded and scored in order to cause the folded 30 portions to spring inward toward the cigar as illustrated in Fig. 30. This operation completes the wrapping and banding of the cigar. All of the parts which comprise this wrapping and banding mechanism are driven directly or indi- 35' rectly from a common drive mechanism which is not shown in the drawings as it forms no part of this invention and would also serve to drive the cigar hopper and feed mechanism with which it will cooperate.

The combination wrapping and banding mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings will function in the same manner as described hereinafter whether it is to be utilized purely as a cigar wrapping mechanism or a banding mech- 45 anism. The wrapper and band feed mechanisms, as stated above are driven from a common source, and it is at this point that a simple and effective clutch or transmission is located to transmit the power to these mechanisms. By manipulation of 50 this clutch or transmission, the wrapper feed mechanism can be quickly thrown out of operation and a banded and unwrapped cigar will be ejected, and likewise, by throwing the band feed mechanism out of operation, a wrapped but un- 5fbanded cigar will be ejected. With these adjustments in mind, it is readily seen that should it be so desired, cigars could first be banded and then fed through the mechanism a second time to be wrapped. This method of operation places 60 the band directly around the cigar instead of around the wrapper. I also wish to'state at this time that this mechanism is also applicable to that type of wrapper for a cigar upon which a facsimile of a band has been printed, said rtype 65 of wrapper being fully described in my copending application filed March 31st, 1931, Serial No. 526,632.

In connection with the features hereinafter specifically pointed-out, and in addition to the 70 many unique and improved structural combinations, the invention is also concerned with the specific mechanical means by which the various advantageous functions are achieved; said mechanical means being combined to provide an 75 automatic, simple, inexpensive, rugged and durable apparatus.

The inventive idea involved is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions, one oi which for the purpose of illustration is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partly broken away, of my improved wrapping and banding mecha- Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2, illustrating the band strip aligning, severing and gum moistening members;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2, illustrating the band feed mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6--6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a detail cross-sectional view taken on line 1 -'I of Fig. 5, illustrating the band severing knife in its cutting position;

Fig. 8 is a detail cross-sectional view taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 5, illustrating the position of the aligning pawl when engaging the band strip;

Fig. 9 is an end elevation of the band strip feed mechanism looking in the direction of the arrow 9 at the left hand side of Fig. 5;

Fig. 10 is a detail plan view taken on the line Ill-I I) of Fig. 9 illustrating the band strip feeding pawl:

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on the line II-II of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a detail cross-sectional view taken on the line I2-I2 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a plan view, partly broken away, of the wrapper strip feed mechanism;

Fig. 14 is a side elevation of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line I5-I5 of Fig. 13 of wrapper strip feed roller and cutting member;

Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line I6--I6 of Fig. 13 illustrating the wrapper carrier members;

Fig. 17 is a detail cross-sectional view taken on the line I`I-I1 of Fig. 16 of wrapper carrier members illustrating the position of the parts at the completion of the cutting operation of the Wrapper knife;

Fig. 18 is a view similar to Fig. 1'7 illustrating the wrapper carrier members at the completion of their delivery of the wrapper into the wrapper holding members located under the wrapping and banding mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 19 is a detail sectional view illustrating the position of the wrapping, banding, aligning, sevcring and moistening members at the start of the wrapping operation, the aligning pawl retaining the band strip in position by engaging a slit cut in the band strip;

Fig. 20 is a detail sectional View illustrating the position of the wrapping and banding members during the first step of the Wrapping and banding operation;

Fig. 21 is a similar view illustrating the completion of the first wrapping and banding step;

Fig. 22 is a sectional side view taken on the line 22-22 of Fig. 21; which illustrates the position of the end folders with respect to the wrapper when it is in the position shown in Fig. 21;

Fig. 23 is a detail sectional view illustrating the beginning of the second step of the wrapping operation which shows how the Wrapper is folded around the bottom of the cigar;

Fig. 24 is a similar view which illustrates the completion of the operation of folding the wrapper around the cigar;

Fig. 25 is a sectional side view taken on the line 25-25 of Fig. 24 which illustrates the position of the lower end folders after the wrapper has been folded under the cigar as shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 26 is a detail sectional view illustrating the first step of the operation of folding the ends of the band under the cigar and the start forward of the band strip carrier, the aligning pawl having been forced downward and out of engagement with alignment slit by the forward movement of the band strip;

Fig. 27 is a similar view illustrating the completion of the banding operation and the completion of the forward movement of the band strip carrier; the aligning pawl is still in contact with the under surface of the band strip; the next successive alignment slit in the strip having been carried past the pawl by full forward movement of the carrier;

Fig. 28 is a sectional side view taken on the line 28--28 of Fig. 27 illustrating the folding and scoring of the ends of the wrapper extending beyond the ends of the cigar;

Fig. 29 ls a detail sectional view illustrating the position of the parts prior to the ejecting of the wrapped and handed cigar; another wrapper and cigar have been brought into position and the band strip carrier is shown returning to its normal position with the aligning pawl engaging the alignment slit and retaining the band strip in position;

Fig. 30 is a side view of the completely wrapped and banded cigar; and

Fig. 31 is a bottom view of Fig. 30.

With particular reference to Figs. 1 to 16, numeral I represents a table upon which my wrapping and banding mechanism is mounted, and upon which the cigars 2 are moved toward said mechanism from a cooperating hopper not shown, but which is also mounted upon the table. The cigars move forward with an intermittent movement from the hopper upon a conveyor; the surface speed of which is slightly greater than is necessary to feed the cigars up to the wrapping and banding position as shown in Fig. l, and it is because of this that any space between the individual cigars is gradually eliminated, and the cigars kept in close contact with one another as they approach the wrapping and banding mechanism. A slight slippage between the cigars and the conveyor insures their close contact and prevents jamming. The rst cigar is brought into contact with a centering plate 3 which protrudes upward through the table and in the path of the cigars as shown in Fig. 1. This centering plate 3 is linked to the centering plate 4 at its lower extremities (not shown) in such a manner to insure equal spread of these plates when the plunger 5 pushes the cigar upward between them as illustrated in Fig. 19. The centering plate 4 has the downwardly extending legs 6 to which the plate 4 is linked, and which are far enough apart to allow the cigars to pass between them. The outwardly extending flange I is integral with the plate 4 and acts as a guide.

Located above the top edges of the centering plates 3 and 4 and bent downward is the wrapper 8; its outer ends being held in the supports 9 and I0. The mechanism utilized for the delivery of the wrapper to this position will be fully described hereinafter. Extending at right angles across the top of the wrapper is the cigar band I I,

' and the mechanism required to deliver it into position will also be` fully described hereinafter. Directly above the wrapper and band, and centrally located between the two centering plates is a plunger comprised of the two feet, I2* and I2 and the slide` plate I2, the center of which is cut away to span the rod I8, which is clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. The plunger I2 is slidably mounted in a guide comprised 'of the upwardly extending bracket I4 and the retaining -plates I5 which are'held in position by the screws I6. Extending outward from the sides of the plunger slide plate I2 and located at its uppermost extremity are the spring supporting pins I1. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) Around the ends of these pins and in suitable grooves are hooked the light coil springs I8, the lower ends of which are secured in suitable grooves in the ends of the anchor pins I9 which are carried in the casting I4. The purpose of Vthese springs is to push the plunger downward with just enough force to prevent the wrapper and band from slipping when a cigar is pushed upward into the position as illustrated in Fig. 5.

Located at the left hand side of the plunger I2 (Fig. 1) is the plate 20 which is mounted upon the rod 2| slidably mounted in the bearings 22 and 23 which are a part of the bracket I4, and the top surface of said plate is in sliding contact with the machined bottom surface 24 of the bracket I4 which prevents the plate from turning about the .axis of its supporting rod 2|. Integral with the rear surface of the plate 20 and located near the ends of which, are the lugs 25 to which are hinged the connecting links 26 by means of the shouldered screws 21. (See Figs. 1 and 3.) The opposite ends of these links 26 are hinged to one side of the toggle levers 28 by the shouldered screws 29. vThe toggle levers are pinned securely upon the shaft 30 mounted in the bearing 3| integral with a portion of the bracket I4. The shaft 38 extends beyond the rear toggle lever as illustrated in Fig. 3, and upon this extension is secured the lever 32. Fastened to the end of this lever is the push rod 33 which is moved up and down by a cam which is part of the main drive mechanism which is not shown in the drawings. Fastened to the extensions 34 of the toggle levers 28 are the connecting rods 35; the upper ends of which are connected to the levers 36 secured upon the shaft 31. The shaft 31 is carried in the bearing 38 integral with the top of 'bracket I4 (Fig. 1) and has secured to its outer ends, the arms 39. Hinged to these arms by means of the screws 48 are the connecting arms 4I of the bell crank 42. Integral with the center of the bell crank A42 are the lugs 43, between which is connected the link 44 by means of the pivot screw pin 45. The lower end` of link 44 is connected to 'the lever 46 by the pivot screw 41. The lever 46 is mechanically connected to a cam, not shown, which is part of the main drive mechanism. 'I'he bell crank 42 is secured to the top of plate 48 by means of the shaft 48 and the bearing blocks 50. Hinged to the plate 48 are the connecting links 53. 'I'hese links pass through suitable apertures 55 cut in the plate and are connected to the hinge blocks 5Ifby the screw pins 52. The other ends; of the connecting links 53 are connected to the toggle levers 28 by the screw pins 64. The combination of links 26 and 53, the-toggles 28, the links 35, arms 36,4

levers 38 and bell crank 42 impart a parallel movement to the plates 20 and 48 when the push rod 33 `isactuated; the purpose of which is more fully described hereinafter.

The rocker arm 58 is supported on the pin 51 lmounted in the bossa-58 of the bracket I4 (see Fig. 1). Secured upon a rearwardly extending portion of the shaft 51 is the lever 58 to which is connected the push rod 68 which extends downward through the table I and is mechanically connected to a cam, not shown, but which is part of the main drive mechanism. The upper end 8| of the rocker arm 56 has secured to it the dat spring 62, the purpose of which is to exert a pressure upon the plunger retaining pin 83, slidably mounted 'in the boss 64 oi' bracket I4 when the lower end of said rocker arm is swung in a clockwise direction as illustrated in those steps of the wrapping and banding operation shown in Figs. 21, 23, and 24. This pressure against said pin 63 causes it` to bear against the plunger slide plate I2 which holds itin position against the pull of the coil springs I8 when the plunger 5 moves downward and away from the bottom of the cigar.

Hinged tothe lower end of the rocker arm 56, by means of the pin 65and the lugs 66, is the band folding i'lnger 61. This finger is held in its normal position as shown in the various views by the fiat spring 68 pressing against the tongue 68 integral with said finger; said at spring being secured to the rocker arm 56. Suspended between two projections which form the front end of the finger 61 is the roller 10, and suspended upon the pin 65 and located between the lugs 66 is the roller 1|, the purpose of these rollers and the finger being fully described hereinafter.

Driven into the upper end 6I of the rocker arm 56 is the anchor pin 12 to which is hooked the light coil spring 13. (See Fig. 1.) To the lower end of this coil spring is hooked the'fabric tape 14 which passes around the roller 1I and between the side anges oi' the finger 61 to the under side of the plunger foot I2 where it is anchored by pushing its rolled and sewed end into the slotted .hole 15 for that purpose, which is clearly illustrated in Fig. 19. Also anchored inl this same slotted hole 15 is the rolled and sewed end of the fabric tape 14l which passes under the plunger foot'I2* and around the roller 16 carried in the cut-out portion in the bottom of the pressure plate 48. The upper end of this tape 14* is hooked to the coil spring 13', which is similar to coil spring 13, the upper end of which is anchored to the hook 11 which is fastened in the bell crank 42.

Secured to the plunger slide plate I2 (see Fig. 1) is the bracket 18 having the pin 19 engaging in the slot 80 of the pusher link 8| which is connected to the lever 82 by means of the pin 83 (see Figs. l and 5). The lever 82 is pivotally connected to the bracket 84 which is fastened to the extension of bracket I 4. Also connected to the lever 82 is the push rod 85 which is mechanically connected to a cam, not shown, which is a part of the main drive mechanism. The purpose of this push rod, lever link and bracket is to move the plunger, comprising the feet I2, I 2b, and slide plate I2 upward to allow the completely wrapped and banded cigar to be easily removed as illustrated in Fig. 29. The lever 46 with its link 44 are provided to raise the plate 48 for the same purpose, which is also illustrated in Fig. 29.

Slidably mounted in the side frames 86 is the folder plate 81, which is apertured at 88 (see Fig. 3) to allow for proper positioning of the finger 61 and to allow for free movement between the rocker arm 56 and said plate as illustrated in Fig.

23. A further object of said aperture 88 will be more fully described hereinafter. Toward the rear of the folder plate 81 and centrally located (see Fig. 3) is secured the gear rack 89 which engages with the gear sector 90 pinned upon the shaft 9| mounted in the bearings 92 which are integral with the side frames 86. Upon the rea-r end of the shaft 9| is secured the arm 93 to which is connected the push rod 94. This rod is mechanically connected to a cam which is not shown, but which is a part of the main drive mechanism of the machine. The collar 95 on shaft 9| prevents the shaft from sliding and thereby preventing the rack and gear sector from disengaging.

An up and down movement applied to the push rod 94 by its operating cam causes the folder plate 81 to move forward and backward in proper synchronization with the rest of the mechanism.

Opposite the folder plate 81, and on the same level with it, is the folder plate 96, which is slidably mounted in a suitable guide to allow it to be freely moved forward and backward by a rack and gear sector (not shown) but which is similar to that described in connection with folder plate 81, but in this instance the rack and gear sector is located underneath the folder plate to allow the completely wrapped and banded cigars to be ejected along its top surface as illustrated in Fig. 1. The front of the said folder plate 96 is slotted as at 91, (see Figs. 2 and 3) and this slot is located directly opposite the opening 88 in folder plate 81. The width of said opening 88 at the front of the plate and the width of slet 9| is such to allow the ends of the greatest width of bands to be used to pass through. The purpose of these openings will be more fully described hereinafter.

Referring more in particular to Figs. 1 and 4 to 12 inclusive, I will now describe the mechanism for feeding the band strip Il from which the bands are cut. The band strip is supplied to the mechanism from a roll ||b (see Figs. 5 and 9) which is loosely mounted on the extending end of the pin 98 rotatably mounted in the bearing bracket 99 which is secured to one of the side frames 86. Engaging the outer surfaces of the band strip roll are the circular friction plates which prevent the unwinding of the roll when the band strip is fed forward. Bearing against the outer friction plate is the knurled nut IOI; which serves to hold the band strip roll in position on the pin 98 and also serves to increase or decrease the amount of friction between the inner friction plate and the light compression spring |02 (see Fig. 9), which is housed in the hub |03 of the band strip feed lever |04 which is secured on the pin 98. Also secured to the pin 98 is the lever |05 to which is connected the connecting rod |08. The lower end of the feed lever |04 is bifurcated and its prongs are slotted to engage the pin |01 carried by the bearing block |08 which is brazed, welded or otherwise secured to the band strip carrier |09 through which the band strip I la slides. Hinged in the forward end of the bearing block |08 on the hinge pin I I0 is the band strip pusher finger I I, the forward end of which is serrated (see Fig. 11) in such a manner to cause it to grip the band strip when the carrier is moved forward and allow it to slide over the surface of the strip when the carrier is returned to its normal position. The pusher nger is held in its operative position by the i'lat spring I2 which bears against the top surface of the finger, said spring being held in position by the screw I I3. The band strip carrier |08 slides in the guide |14 which is secured to the bracket IIE which is adjustably mounted on the rear side frame by means of the screws IIE which engage in the slot I I1 cut in the flange of the bracket for that purpose. (See Figs. 1 and 4.) Integral with the bracket ||5 is the band cutter bearing plate IIS. Slidably mounted in suitable guides integral with the forward end of said plate I8 is the band cutter |I9; the shank of which passes downward through the plate to engage with the bifurcated end of the band cutter lever by means of the pin |2| which is driven in said cutter shank. The opposite end of the band cutter lever is secured on the shaft |22 by means of the pin |23; (see Fig. 4) the shaft being mounted in the bearings |24 integral with the cutter bearing plate I I8 and the bracket IIE. Also mounted upon the shaft |22, but free to rotate, is the align- I ing pawl |25 which is urged upward by the light coil spring |26 retained in position by engaging in a circular recess machined in the top surface of the bearing plate for that purpose. Secured to the. end of shaft |22 extending beyond the rear of the bracket II5, (see Fig. 4) is the lever |21, to which is connected the push rod |28, said connection between the lever and rod being such to allow the lever to be swung freely by a perpendicular movement of the push rod. The push rod is held in its perpendicular position by the bearing |29 integral with the lower end of the bracket I I5 (see Figs. 1 and 4) and extends downward to the main drive mechanism where it is actuated by a. cam which is not shown in the drawings. The bearing |29 and part of the bracket I I5 extend downward into the opening |30 cut into the table I,

and its width is such to allow for adjusting said bracket to meet the requirements of the length of band to be used. The nose of the aligning pawl |25 engages in the U-shaped slits |3| cut in the band strip (see Figs. 4, 8 and 19) but does so only upon the return stroke of the band strip carrier |09 which will be more fully described hereinafter. Referring to Fig. 8 it will be seen that I have provided a recess |32 in the top plate of the band carrier guide ||4 to insure the engagement of the pawl in said slits I3I. Referring to Figs. 1, 4, and 8, it will be seen that the top plate of the band carrier guide ||4 is also provided with the rectangular slot |33 through which the cutter blade passes when it cuts oif a band. The edges of this slot adjacent to the band strip act as the stationary cutting edge for the cutter. The opening |34 cut in the top plate of the carrier guide, which is most clearly shown in Fig. 4, is provided for the purpose of allowing the band strip pusher finger III to be moved forward to within onehalf a band length of the aligning pawl, and the slot |35 cut in the end of the folder plate 81 (see Fig. 10) is provided to receive the bearing block |08 and the at spring ||2 when the band strip carrier is in its forward position.

Located Aat the right hand side of the centering plates 3 and 4, (Figs. 1 and 4) and in a direct line with the band strip, are the moistening jaws |36 and |31. The upper jaw I 36 is a narrow ngerlike member which` is pinned on the shaft |38 from which it receives its opening and closing action. The lower jaw |31 is rotatably hung on the shaft |38 and comprises the moistening wick |39 and the water compartment |40 integral with the jaw. The front edge of the jaw has the raised portion |4| (Figs. 19 to 29) which, in cooperation with the front edge of the upper jaw, hold the severed band in position (see Fig. 1) until the cigar 2 is brought into the position illustrated in Fig. 19. During the gripping position, the moistening wick |39 is in contact with the gummed surface of the band. The screw |42 is provided to close the water inlet of the water compartment. The shaft |36 is mounted in` the adjustable bracket |43 (see Fig. 4) which is held in position by the screws |44 engaging in the slot 45 machined in the flange of the bracket for that purpose; said flange being clamped against the surface of the rear cigar guide plate |46. The cigar guide plates |46 are secured to the sides of the channels |41 upon the top of which, and between the cigar guide plates, the folder plate 96 slides. Secured upon the rear end of the shaft I 36 is the lever I 46 to which is connected the push rod |49. The connection between the arm and the push rod is such to allow the arm to be swung by a perpendicular movement of the push rod which is slidably mounted in the bearing |50 integral with the bottom of the bracket |43. The bottom of the bracket and the push rod extend downward through the opening 5| cut in the table I. lThe width of this opening is such to allow for the adjustment of the bracket |43 to meet requirements of the length of the band to be used. The push rod |49 is actuated by a cam not shown in the drawings. Secured in position upon the push rod is the arm |52 which is connected to rocker arm 53 secured in the side of the water compartment |40. (See Fig. 4.) will be readily seen that the upward movement of the push rod will close both jaws |36 and |31.

Referring more in particular to Figs. 13 to 18 inclusive I will now describe the wrapper feed mechanism. 'I'he cellophane wrapper strip 6 kis fed to the mechanism from the roll 6b which is supported by the brackets |54 fastened to rear of the table I. 'I'he wrapper strip is drawn from the roll 8b by the rubber covered roller |55 mounted above the wrapper former |56, which consists of two sheets of metal placed one above the other, with just enough space between them to allow the wrapper strip to pass through. The top sheet of the former is apertured to allow the bottom of the roller to contact with the wrapper strip which is most clearly shown in Fig. 15. The former |56 is secured to the saddle |51 integral with the bearing bracket I 56 fastened to the top of the table. The roller |55 is fastened upon the shaft |59 carried in the bearing |60 integral with the bearing bracket |56. Upon the opposite end of this shaft is secured the bevel gear I6| which runs in mesh with the bevel gear |62 mnunted on the end of the drive shaft |63; said drive shaft receiving its rotation from the main drive mechanism not shown in the drawings. Directly in line with the wrapper former |56 and slidably mounted .in the guides |64 is the wrapper shuttle |65. Across the bottom of the shuttle is secured the slide plate |66, the outer edges of which slide in the guides |64. Fastened to the under face of the slide plate and centrally located is the gear rack |61 which meshes with the gear sector |66 mounted on the pin |69 carried by the depending lugs |10 integral with base flanges of the guides |64 whichA is moet clearly illustrated in Fig. 16. Pivotally connected to the gear sector |68 is the push rod |1| which is actuated by a cam which is part of the main drive mechanism which is not shown in the drawings. The body portion of the shuttle |65 is made from two thin sheets of metal bent to form U-shaped members; the rounded portions of which are brazed to the slide plate |66 in such a position to form the slot |12 Referringto Figs. 1 and 27 it at their upper ends as illustrated in Fig. 16. The space between the sides of the U-shaped members is just enough to allow the wrapper to pass between them. 'I'he two opposing ends of the U- shaped members of the shuttle and the formerl 5 are protected and reinforced by the yokes |13' and |14 respectively. The space between these yokes, when the shuttle is in its normal position l is just enough to allow thecircular cutter |15 to pass through, which is clearly illustrated in Fig. 17. 'I'he cutter is fast upon the shaft 16 which is joumaled in the bifurcated end of the lever |11 which is free to pivot on the pulley shaft |16 journaled in the bearing |19. Also secured upon the shaft |16 is the small pulley |80 which is l5 driven by the large pulley |8I, carried on the shaft |16, and the belt |62. 'Ihe large pulley I 6| has integral with it, the small pulley |63, which is driven by the belt |64 engaging in the groove of a suitable pulley located on the main drive 30 shaft which is not illustrated. The cutter lever |11 is moved up and down by the push rod |85 (see Fig. 15) which is pivotally connected to the lever by means of the shouldered pin |66. The push rod is actuated-by a cam which is part of 25 the drive mechanism not shown. Located above the wrapper shuttle and slidable in suitable guides |61 is the wrapper pusher block |86, which is most clearly illustrated in Figs. 16, 17, and 18. 'I'he pusher block |66 has the outwardly extending 30 arms |69 which are linked to the levers |90 by the connecting links |9I. The levers |90 extend upwardly through suitable apertures |92 cut in the table I for this purpose. The lower ends of the levers are pinned on the shaft |93 which 3 is journaled in the bearing brackets |94 fastened to the underside of thei table as illustrated in Fig. 16. A reciprocating motion is imparted to the levers |90 by the lever |95 pinned on the outer end of the shaft I 93 and the push rod |96 connected to it. Slidably mounted in the pusher block |88, and spring actuated to hold it in its normal position, is the wrapper pusher |91 which is clearly shown in Figs. 16 and 17. To force. the wrapper pusher |91 downward against its spring is the rocker arm |976 which is pivoted on the shouldered pin |99 supported in the bracket 200 secured upon the top of the table. The rocker arm is actuated by the push rod 20| which extends downward through the table to the main drive mechanism. When the wrapper pusher is forced downward as illustrated in Fig. 18 by the rocker arm |96, the pusher block |66 is then moved forward by the levers |90. During the forward movement of the pusher block, the wrapper pusher must be held in its depressed position, and it is for this purpose that I have provided the rail 202 suspended from the center of the supports 203 which straddle the wrapper shuttle mechanism.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and more in particular to the latter two, it will be seen that there are two pairs of wrapper end folders. The top folders are designated by the numeral '204 and the bottom folders by the numeral 205. 'I'he topV folders 204 are supported on the rods 206 and the bottom folders are supported by the rods 201; all of said rods pass downward through the table I, below which each pair is actuated by its independent cam, not shown in the drawings, but which will .actuate them in a synchronous manner with the rest of the mechanism as said cams are a part of the main drive mechanism. The end folders are free to move up and down in the slots 206 cut in thevplate 46 and the slots 209 cut in the plate 20. (See Figs. 2 and 3.) The lower 75 edges of the top folders are beveled and grooved to correspond to a bevel and bead on the top edges of the bottom folders, (see Fig. 13) the purpose of which will be more fully described hereinafter.

When the cigars are completely wrapped and banded, they are ejected from the wrapping and banding position by the ejector finger 2|0'and the rearward movement of the folder plate 96. The ejector nger receives its movement from a combination of levers which are actuated by a cam forming part of the main drive which is not shownin the drawings. As the wrapped and banded cigars are ejected, they are guided between the guides which are secured to the channels |41. (See Figs. l and 2). The guides |46 prevent the folded down ends 2|| of the Wrapper (see Figs. 28, 30, and 31) from being sprung outward and retain the cigars in a uniform line as they are moved away from the wrapping and banding mechanism by the reciprocating members 2|2, (Figs. 1 and 3) which have integral with them the downwardly extending prongs 2|3. These reciprocating members are connected to the links 2|4 by the pivot screws 2|5, and said links are connected to the reciprocating carrying member 2|6 which is slidably mounted on the shaft |3 by the pivot screws 2|1. The reciprocating members 2|2 also receive their motion from the main drive mechanism, and their operation will be more fully described hereinafter.

Having thus described my invention in detail, I will now describe its operation.

Refering to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the first cigar has been moved up into Contact with the centering plate 3, and upon the top of plunger 5 by a cooperating feed mechanism and the wrapper 8 and band have been fed into position by their respective feed mechanisms, and before describing the cycle of operation pertaining to the wrapping and banding of the cigar, I will describe the operation of feeding the band and wrapper into position as illustrated in Fig. 1.

As already referred to herein, the cigar bands are severed from the band strip ||a which is supplied to the machine in the form of the roll ||b as illustrated in Fig. 5. To thread the band strip in position, the knurled nut |0| and the friction plate |00 are removed and the roll of band strip is slipped on thepin 98. The friction plate and knurled nut are then replaced; the nut being screwed on until a suflicient amount of tension has been built up by the compression of the coil spring |02 (Fig. 9) to create enough friction between itself and the second friction plate to prevent the roll from unwinding when the band strip is pulled. The band strip is fed downward from the roll, and around and under the curved end of the bearing block |08, from which point it is threaded into the band strip carrier |09 a distance suiicient to cause the nose of the aligning pawl |25 to engage the first U-shaped slit |3|. This will bring the end of the band strip into alignment with the blade of the band cutter ||9 as illustrated in Fig. 20, reference to which is solely for the purpose of locating the end of the band strip at the completion of the hand threading operation, as the figure itself illustrates one of the various stages of the wrapping and banding operation. With the band strip in this position, and considering all other elements in their respective operative positions, the machine is caused to operate. Simultaneous with the positioning of a cigar over the plunger 5 as illustrated in Fig. 1, the connecting rod |06 (Fig. 5)

is pulled downward by its actuating mechanism. 'Ihis action causes the lever |05 to be swung in a counter clockwise direction, which will cause the pin 98 to swing the band strip feed lever |04' into the position illustrated by dot and dash lines. This forward swing of the lever |04 slides the band strip carrier |09 forward in its guide |I4, due to their being connected by the bearing block |08, until the said carrier has taken the position illustrated in Fig. 27. During this movement of the carrier, the band strip has also been carried forward with it because of the pressure exerted upon the pusher finger by the flat spring l2, which causes the serrated end of said pusher tc bite into the strip, thereby gripping it rmly and holding it against the drag created by the coil spring |02 and the friction plate |00. The length of this forward movement of the band strip carrier is constant, irrespective of the length of band required to encircle the cigar, its full movement being slightly greater than the length of the longest band required for the banding of cigars. When the band strip Was moved forward, the aligning pawl |25 was swung downward and out of the U-shaped slit due to the unslit portion of Y the strip contacting with the rounded side of its nose; and asthe strip continues to move, it rides over the pawl until the next slitis reached when its nose will be pushed upward into the slit by its light coil spring |26. 'I'he pawl does not remain in this position, for it is again swung downward by the continued movement of the strip due to the 4length of movement of its carrier as described. Upon the return stroke of the carrier which brings the strip back with it, the nose of the pawl will again enter the slit it has just been forced out of and hold it against further backward movement as illustrated in Fig. 29 while the carrier continues until it reaches its normal position as illustrated in Fig. 5, in which position it remains at rest throughout the remainder of the cycle of operation. Shortly after the aligning pawl arrests the movement of the band strip, the push rod |49 is pushed upward by its cam. This movement of the rod causes the arm |52 to swing the water compartment |40 with its integral moistening and gripping jaw |31 upward, and at the same time the upward movement of the rod swings the lever |48 upward which turns the shaft |38 in a counter-clockwise direction. This action causes the upper gripping jaw |36 to swing downward to meet the moistening and gripping jaw |31 and grip the end of the band strip between them as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5. The raised front edge |4| of the jaw |31 contacts with the underside of the band strip just slightly beyond the gummed surface with which the moistening wick |39 comes into contact. At the instant when these moistening and gripping jaws have closed upon the band strip, the push rod |28 is caused to rise very quickly; which, by

means of the lever |21, the shaft |22 and the lever |20, causes the band cutter ||9 to be forced up quickly into the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5. This action severs a band from the band strip, the blade of the cutter having been forced upward through the band strip and into the rectangular slot |33 provided in the top plate of the carrier guide |4 which acts as the shearing edge for the cutter blade. The distance between the cutter blade and the nose of the aligning pawl does not change for different lengths of bands. This distance is equal to the standard length of gummed surface required for cigar bands plus a very small clearance between the edges of the gum and the curve of the U-shaped slit III. When a longer band than that illustrated is to be used, the aligning pawl and cutter, and the moistening and gripping jaws are moved outward or away from the center of the wrapping and banding position. the center line of which is the center of the plunger I2; and for a shorterband, the adjustment is just the opposite. 'I'he adjustment for the aligning pawl and cutter .is obtained by loosening the screws ||8 (see Figs.

1 and 5) and sliding the bracket IIS in the required direction. This adjustment of the bracket also carries with it the carrier guide II4 which is necessary to keep the rectangular slot |89 and the recess |82 (see Fig. 8) provided init, in perfect alignment with their cooperating parts. the cutter and aligning pawl respectively. 'Ihe moistening and gripping jaws are adjusted by loosening the screws |44 and sliding the bracket |48 in the required direction. The distance each of the above members are moved toward or away-from l the center of the wrapping and banding position' is vequal to one half of the diierence in length of the band to be used and that of the band previously used. 'I'he change in position of the push rods |28 and |49 when the brackets I I5 and |48 respectively are adjusted is` compensated forby their respective cams which are not shown in the drawings but which are of the flat wedge type and adjustable to meet the necessary changes.

During the first part of the return stroke of the band strip carrier, and before it has reached the position illustrated in Fig. 29, the wrapper feed mechanism feeds the wrapper 8 into its supports 9 and I0. which are located directly under the wrapping and banding position. Reference is now directed to Figs. 13 to 18 inclusive which fully illustrate this wrapper feed mechanism. and the following is a description of its operation.

The wrapper strip 8` is supplied to the mechanism from the roll 8b which is supported in the brackets I 54. The end of the strip is fed into the former |59 until its edge is in line with the edge of the reinforcing yoke |14 located at the left hand side of the former which is most clearly shown in Figs. 13 and 14. With the wrapper strip in this position, the shuttle |65 is moved toward the right until its yoke |13 contacts with the yoke |14. The strip is then fed into the wrapper shuttle by the feed roller |55 in synchronous timing with the forward feed of the band strip when the machine starts operating. When the end of the wrapper strip has entered the shuttle. the shuttle moves back to its normal position as the wrapper continues to move forward. The fced roller is revolved by an intermittent drive which is adjustable to vary the length oi wrapper strip fed into the shuttle. When the wrapper strip comes to rest in the shuttle, the lever |11 is pulled downward and the circular cutter |15, which is being rotated at a very high speed, cuts through the wrapper strip as it passes between the reinforcing yoke |18 of the shuttle and the yoke |14 of the former, as illustrated in Fig. 1'1. This cutting action leaves the equivalent of a wrapper 8 in the shuttle which is then moved toward the wrapper supports 9 and III as illustrated in Fig. 18. This sliding action of the shuttle is obtained by the pulling down of the rod |1| which is connected to the gear sector |88. The turning of the gear sector .pushes the gear rack |61 forward which is secured to the bottom of slide plate |65 of the shuttle. The length of the movement of the shuttle is of such length to bring it into close contact with the ends of the wrapper supports 9 and |9. While the shuttle dwells in this position, the rocker arm |98 is actuated by its cam. 'I'his causes the wrapper pusher |91 to be forced downward against its coil spring until its rounded head is on a line with the bottom surface of the rail 202 which is clearly illustrated by dot and dash lines in Fig. 18. This brings the lower end of the wrapper pusher in line with the end of the wrapper 8, at which time,

the levers |90 are swung counter-clockwise by l0 their actuating mechanism. This action slides the wrapper pusher block |88 forward due to its being linked to said levers |99 by means of the arms |89 integral with said block and the conn ectlng links |9|. When the pusher block is l5 moved forward, the pusher `|91 is retained in its depressed position due to its rounded end sliding from under the rocker arm |98 to the underside of the rail 292, and, as the pusher is carried forward. it contacts with the edge of the wrapper 20 carrying it forward with it, until it reaches the 4position illustrated in Fig. 18. This action places the wrapper in its supports 9 and I0 directly under the wrapping and banding position, and under the band as illustrated in Fig. 1. In movlng the wrapper forward the lower end of the -pusher passes through the slot or space |12 provided for this purpose between the top edges of the body portions of the shuttle which is most clearly illustrated in Fig. 16. When the wrapper has been deposited in its supports 9 and I0, the pusher, remains idle. until the shuttle has been returned to its normal position by the gear sector Itand itscooperating rack. This is done to insure against any movement of the wrapper due to friction between'its surface and the shuttle. When the pusher is returned to its normal position, the .rounded end passes from under the rail 202 and the pusher is forced upward by its c oil spring as illustrated in Fig. 18 to clear the 40 passage for the next wrapper.

Having thus described that portion of the cycle of operation pertaining to the feeding of the bands and wrappers, I will now describe the remainder of the cycle pertaining to the wrapping and banding of the cigars, and their ejection from the wrapping and banding position.

As the cycle of operation continues with the band, wrapper and cigar in place as illustrated in Fig. l. the plunger l moves the cigar upward, and as the upper left-hand edge of it touches the rounded corner formed by the centering plate 4 and its flange 1, this centering plate 4 is pushed toward the left. 'Ihis movement causes the centering plate 2 to move toward the right an equal 55 distance due to their being connected by a parallel movement mechanism. As the plate 3 moves away. the cigar slides toward it due to the pressure exerted against the plate 4. and this action continues until the distance between the two 00 plates is equal to the width of the cigar. This action absolutely centers the cigars and automatically takes care of any variation. As the plunger i continues to move upward, it pushesthe top surface of the cigar into contact with the c5 wrapper 8, the band 9 and the presser plunger feet I2* and I2b as illustrated in Fig. 19; at the same time the moistening and gripping jaws |36 and |21-open up and release the gummed end of the band. and the band cutter ||9 returns to its 70 normal position. 'Ihe continued movement of the Dhlngervi causes the cigar to force the presser 'plunger upward against the tension of the coll springs I8 as illustrated in Fig. 20. This action causes the wrapper to be firmly gripped between 

